- born and raised at 76 York Street (now called Petty France) in Westminster, Middlesex, England.- studied at St. Saviour’s Grammar School, Southwark, London, England and graduated “optime merito” in 1877 as inscribed by his teachers in Latin on a 3-volume book set which he was awarded. He would have had to travel approximately 2 miles and cross the Thames to get to school.- was 18 in the British Census of 1881 and living with his brother Cyril and his sister-in-law Martha at 76 York St., London, Middlesex, England26- went by his middle name Frank as he is listed as such in the 1881 British Census as well as on his Death Certificate.- emigrated to Canada 18825; landed at Montreal30- described as 5’6” light complexion and hazel eyes30

He was listed in Crockford’s Clerical Directory in issues from 1890 to 1917. This allows us to piece together his early career along with entries from the Synod Journals from Nov. 1886-87 located in the Diocese of Huron Archives:Crockford’s says he studied at Wycliffe Divinity College, Toronto but we know he studied at Huron College in London from 1883 as described in a letter of reference from one of his examiners.1885 - Ordained as a Deacon on Nov. 291885-86 - Incumbent of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Princeton, Ontario (Blenheim Township, Oxford County) and Christ Church in Ayr (North Dumfries Township, Waterloo County)1886-87 - Incumbent of Alvinston, Ontario (Brooke Township, Lambton County)- living in Alvinston at the time of his marriage in June, although married in Hamilton where Matilda was living (the name of the town is mis-transcribed as “Aloniston” on the marriage record.7- also during this time he was ordained a Priest in the Diocese of Huron on Sunday, Nov. 7, 1886 at Trinity Church, St. Thomas, Ontario1887-90 - Incumbent of Church of the Advent, Ridgetown, Ontario (Howard Township, Kent County) along with St. George’s in Selton, Ontario (Howard Township, Kent County)Their 2 children were born in Ridgetown.8,71891-93 - Incumbent of Trinity Anglican Church, Durham, Ontario (Glenelg Township, Grey County) along with Egremont Township, Grey County where he would have preached at the local schoolhouse 6 miles south of Durham (site of Maplewood Cemetery today). His first act in Durham was a marriage on Jan. 20, 1891 and his last was a baptism on Mar 3, 1893.31Excerpts from Trinity Anglican Church Durham 150th Anniversary booklet:“Rev. Burt came to Durham in January, 1891. He was an accomplished musician and brought his two-manual organ with him. He was a big help to the choir. He had Thomas Farr and Charles Robson read the lessons. Around 300 attended his farewell in March, 1893....In 1891 either lightning or wind destroyed the top of the bell tower. The bell did not come down to the ground but was dislodged and out of use for some time. The town people missed the bell so much that the repair bill was partly paid by other denominations. Rev. Burt designed a new top for the tower. It had wooden spires at the four corners. Part of these were blown off during the big storm of Good Friday, 1913. The remaining spires were taken down.”1893-1916 - Rector at St. Martin’s-in-the-Woods, Shediac Cape, New Brunswick (also recorded in the church brochure obtained by Greg Colucci on which he is listed as Rev. Augustus [sic] F. B. Burt)32

- Kathleen Givan’s recollection was that he had a B.A. and Doctor of Divinity but so far we haven’t found evidence to support this. She likely misinterpreted the latin inscription dedicated to him on the 3-volume book set from St. Saviour’s Grammar School (when he was only 15 years old). There it had the abbreviation D.D. for dedicavit (dedicated) which was likely confused with Doctor of Divinity. There are however 5 years in London, England from 1877 to 1882, during which his activities are unaccounted for aside from living with and assisting his brother at the family home above the druggist’s shop.- listed as F. A. Burt on the 1901 census with his family in Shediac Cape5- In the Colucci family is a bible with a hand written dedication: “To Auguste F. B. Burt” from 1903 in Shediac Cape- he moved to Connecticut in 1917 and lived in Wethersfield outside Hartford15- he was Rector of Trinity Church in Wethersfield, Connecticut until his death in 1920 (not to be confused with the Trinity Church in nearby Hartford or the former Trinity Church in Waterbury where his daughter was later married or the Trinity Church in Durham, Ontario where he lived much earlier!) - listed in the U.S. 1920 census as Auguste F. Burt. Father and mother were both born in England.15- see photo of marble cross at grave site confirming middle initials and birth and death dates- written by someone in his bible is “Obit. - AF Burt July 28th 1920”- although living in Wethersfield at the time, he died in Waterbury Hospital, Waterbury where daughter Frances was a nurse. The cause of death was delayed surgical shock after an operation for acute gangrenous cholecystitis. This source also lists his city of birth as London, England and his parents as George E. Burt and Frances Barrow.33

Under his entry in daughter Frances’ Birthday book is pasted a small printed passage, which is an excerpt from a poem “Away” by James Whitcomb Riley (an American poet from Indiana who lived 1849-1916): “I cannot say, I will not sayThat he is dead...he is just awayWith a cheery smile and a wave of the handHe has awakened into an unknown land.”1

Obituaries

from The Hartford Courant, July 31, 1920:“DEAD CLERGYMAN’S MESSAGE READ AT FUNERAL SERVICES - Rev. Auguste F. B. Burt Buried In Wethersfield Cemetery.The funeral of Rev. Auguste F. B. Burt, rector of Trinity Church, Wethersfield, who died in Waterbury on Wednesday, was held in the church at 2:30 o-clock yesterday afternoon. Many of other communions were in attendance. With possibly one exception all the surviving members of John M. Morris Post, G. A. R., were present as Rev. Mr. Burt was chaplain of the post. [G.A.R. = Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization of veterans of the Union Army who had served in the American Civil War.] The stores in town were closed during the time of the funeral.The services were conducted by Rt. Rev. E. C. Acheson, bishop suffragan of the diocese, assisted by Rev. Dr. John N. Lewis of Waterbury and Rev. Paul H. Barbour, rector of Grace Church, this city. The clergy and choir formed in procession with S. A. Griswold as crucifier, while Miss Elizabeth Warner acted as organist, the choir rendering the burial chant and two hymns “Jesus Lives!” and, “On the Resurrection Morning”, with the “Nunc Dimittia” for a recessional. The benediction was pronounced by Bishop Acheson, who also read a message from the dead priest which was, in effect. “I want all my dear people to live up to my teachings; that they may so live from day to day that they may always be ready to die, or, rather, that they may be ready to come into the presence of Jesus Christ.”The burial was in the village cemetery where the committal serfice was read by Bishop Acheson and Rev. Mr. Barbour, the bishop pronouncing the final benediction. The bearers were the two wardens of the church, James H. Anderson and Alfred W. Hanmer, with Harry B. Strong, W. H. Warner, E. E. Lyman and E. R. Woodhouse. The clergymen present besides those already mentioned were Rev. Henry W. Hobson of Waterbury, Rev. Robert H. Burton of Plainville, Rev. Arthur H. Barrington of Unionville, Rev. John H. Jackson of this city and Rev. J. S. Little of West Hartford.Rev. Mr. Burt was born in London, England, in 1862. He was educated at St. Savior’s School and came to Canada in 1881 where he studied theology in London University, London, Ont. He was ordained to the deaconate in November, 1881, and to the priesthood in 1886 and was, in the years following, rector of three different parishes in Ontario. On account of ill health he went to Shediac, New Brunswick, where he lived for twenty-three years. After resigning he came to Connecticut for a rest, later assisting Rev. Dr. John N. Lewis, in the work of St. John’s parish, Waterbury, and accepted a call to Trinity Church, Wethersfield, in June, 1912, where he labored until his death. He married Matilda Sutherland of Bath, England, who survives him with a daughter, Frances, of Waterbury and a son, Percival, of this city. He also [has] two brothers, Dr. Cyril Burt of England and Edward John Burt of Toronto, and two sister, Mrs. George Gerran[s] and Miss Bessie Burt, both of Toronto.Upon coming to Wethersfield Rev. Mr. Burt began a fruitful work which he carried on with unceasing energy and abounding tact. Living in charity with all men, his influence was not confined in the families which made up his own congregation and the grief which his parish feels at his death well be shared by the townspeople.”

from the Hartford Courant, Aug 1, 1920:“ADOPT RESOLUTIONS ON A. F. B. BURT (Special to The Courant.) Wethersfield, July 31.The following resolutions were offered by the wardens of Trinity Church in behalf of its parishioners in the death of the Rev. A. F. B. Burt.Forasmuch as God hath called to his rest and reward, His faithful servant Auguste Frank Barrow Burt, priest, at the close of a rectorship in Trinity Parish of but three years,Therefore we, the Parish of Trinity Church, Wethersfield, do extent [sic] to Mrs. Burt, and to their children our sincerest sympathy in their loss.We have known Mr. Burt, not only as an energetic, faithful and loyal citizen of the town of Wethersfield, but as a most loving and devoted pastor of those whom God had placed under his charge. We knew that in any time of sorrow or trouble we could turn to him for sympathy and help and would be sure to receive it.Yet through all his ministry he knew, and all who had eyes to see knew that it was not he himself who helped or who worked or who comforted, but God who was pleased to use him as His messenger to us.Wherefore knowing full well that his life is not ended, but that God hath called him to a fuller and higher service, we do humbly pray that God will give to him peace and happiness in His presence, and to those who have loved him and from whom he has gone for a while, peace and comfort in the realization of the presence and love of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.Attest, in behalf of the parish,James R. Anderson, Alfred W. Hanmer, Wardens.”

Research

A Short History of St. Saviour’s Church (Southwark Cathedral) and St. Saviour’s Grammar School

The Church

Southwark Cathedral, formerly St. Saviour’s Church, is situated near London Bridge on the south side of the River Thames in the London Borough of Southwark.Before the Reformation, St. Saviour’s was the Catholic priory church of St. Mary Overie (“over the river”), a monastic institution for the Canons of the Order of St. Augustine in which the lay folk could not worship. St. Mary Overie was founded in 1106 but it wasn’t until about 1420 and after two major fires that the characteristic four-spired tower was completed; it remains a prominent a feature to this day. (As a student of St. Saviour’s Grammar School, Auguste Frank Barrow Burt would have been affiliated with St. Saviour’s Church. This no doubt influenced his architectural tastes as later, when he was Incumbent of the humble Anglican church in Durham, Ontario in Canada, he redesigned their damaged church tower to have four spires reminiscent of home.) In 1424, James I of Scotland was married in this church to the niece of Henry Beaufort, a Cardinal who had assisted in the rebuilding.When King Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries, the church buildings were surrendered to the Crown on Oct 14, 1538. The parish of nearby St. Margaret’s and that of St. Mary Magdalen merged and leased the old Church from the Crown on January 30th 1543. Thus was born the new parish of St. Saviour’s, the name being derived from the recently dissolved abbey of St. Saviour in nearby Bermondsey. In 1614 the parishioners purchased the church from the Crown.In the early 1600’s Southwark was an Elizabethan theatre district and site of the famous Globe theatre; various actors were buried at the church including Edmund Shakespeare, thought to be a brother of William Shakespeare.In the 1890s, an impressive new nave was constructed and in 1905 the church became the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Southwark.

The Grammar School

In 1559, the parish sold a quantity of silver plate to fund a new 60-year lease from Lady Day, dated June 6th, 1559. A condition of the lease was that the parish establish within two years a building and employ a schoolmaster for a free Grammar school. In the interim, the parish leased space in the old St. Margaret church building, funded by renting out Lady Chapel to a baker and selling the vestments and brass vessels.On May 16th, 1562 the parishioners paid £42 for a thousand-year lease from Matthew Smith on a building associated with the Green Dragon Inn, which previously had been the estate of Lady Cobham. Under the first schoolmaster Christopher Ockland, the school moved into this new site just south of St. Saviour’s Church (subsequently the site of Borough Market).

The school received a Charter from Queen Elizabeth I, sealed on June 4th, 1562. The event was commemorated on a foundation stone still existing today (although moved from site to site and now situated at St. Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington, Kent). The chief figure of the Board of Governors was a church warden, Thomas Cure, who was the Queen’s Saddler and lived adjacent to the northwest corner of St. Saviour’s church.The High Master (headmaster) was paid £20 per year and initially only boys from St. Saviour’s parish could be admitted for a fee of 2s. 6d, while those from St. Olave’s or other parishes could pay a fee to the High Master to arrange for a teacher for their instruction. (St. Olave’s parish established their own Grammar School in 1571.)Probably the most famous alumnus from the first hundred years was John Harvard, after whom Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts was named. His father Robert and his brother Thomas were Governors of the school.

The great fire of Southwark destroyed the school building in 1676 and damaged part of St. Saviour’s church (although the church tower was unscathed). The school’s foundation stone was saved and a new building was built on the same site. There the school remained until 1839 when the Governors sold the building for £2,250 and relocated (along with the foundation stone) to a third building on Sumner Street to the west. Canon Edmund Boger was the last headmaster there from 1859 to 1895. (Boger’s term encompassed the time period in which Auguste Frank Barrow Burt and his older brother Cyril attended the school. The young Frank received the book award for the “alumno optime merito”, the most-deserving pupil in his year in 1877.)

In 1896, St. Saviour’s and St. Olave’s schools were amalgamated at St. Olave’s site on Tooley Street and became known as St. Olave’s and St. Saviour’s Grammar School. During World War II the old Sumner Street building was damaged by bombing. The foundation stone was subsequently moved to St. Olave’s and St. Saviour’s Grammar School in 1952; when the school relocated to Orpington in Kent, the stone went with it in 1967.

From that point onward, the school was simply known as St. Olave’s Grammar School, thus ending the era of St. Saviour’s.

Compiled by Norman Franke, 2004Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sources:

1) Carrington, R.C. Two Schools: A History of the St. Olave’s and St. Saviour’s Grammar School Foundation and its Schools. McCorquodale Printers Ltd., London, 1971.

The following letters were typed from photocopies of the original handwritten letters by A.F.B. Burt to the Anglican Diocese in Fredericton, NB. They recount the stressful time of his move from Ontario to New Brunswick, when his initial appointment was delayed by infighting between two factions in the parish.

The ParsonageDurham, OntFebruary 16. 1893

The Rt: Rev: The Bishop of Fredericton:My Lord:- Having received a copy of the Diocesan Manual; I see that it is the rule in Fredericton that a clergyman elected to a rectory should be presented to the Bishop within ten days after the election. Permit me to say that the Vestry of Shediac elected me to be their rector, at a meeting held on Jany 28th. I therefore hasten to say that as it was impossible under the circumstances, for me to be presented personally to you Lordship, at the time of Wardens’ official notice of the result of the Election; that I will present myself at the earliest possible date; and as your Lordship shall direct. I will endeavour to make arrangements so that, if accepted by Your Lordship, I shall be able to take up the work in Shediac by the second or third week in March. As the customs in Fredericton are in some ways different from those in Huron, may I respectfully request that such information and instructions as will be necessary, may be sent to me at your Lordship’s convenience. I have the honor to remain Your Lordship’s obedient servant [signed] A. F. Burt

The Parsonage Durham OntFebruary 22. 1893

The Rt: Rev: The Bishop of FrederictonMy Lord:- I am in receipt of your communication of 17th Instant, asking for letters testimonial. I enclose the usual “Bene Decessit” from the Bishop’s Commissary – (The Bishop himself being at present in Egypt)- and will obtain letters testimonial from three clergymen in addition thereto. The Archdeacon of Grey, Ont. has retired from active work; having been superannuated last Christmas; but as I labored in his Archdeaconry for two years previously, I have no doubt that your Lordship can obtain such information as is required from him. His address is:- The Ven: Archdeacon Mulholland Owen Sound: Ont:-The Rural Dean of our county is:- The Rev. George Keys. Clarksburg, Ont.I might also give as references:- Mr. J. A. Mackellar, Banker, of Toronto. Ont (now in Tacoma. Washington)who was churchwarden in my former parish: & Mr. Henry Parker, Druggist, Durham, Ont:who could give some account of my work here;also: A. H. Hanington Esq: Barrister, Queen Square; St. John: N.B.

I trust these references will be satisfactory to your Lordship. I was ordained priest November 1886.

The Rt. Rev. H. J. Kingdon D.D.My Lord Bishop:- I have the honor to enclose the three letters testimonial, as desired by your Lordship: and trust that they will prove satisfactory. I expect to leave Durham next week, on my way to Shediac; and shall hold myself in readiness to follow any directions which I may receive meanwhile. May I respectfully request your Lordship to forward your commands by the return mail: as otherwise I shall have commenced my journey eastwards, before there will be time to receive a reply:- letters from Fredericton taking 4 days to arrive here. I expect to stop off at St. John on Friday 17th inst: and if there is not time to send instructions to Durham before Monday next, they could be sent to me, c/o A. H. Hanington, esq; Queen Square, St. John. May I ask if it will be necessary for me to come to Fredericton in order to take the oaths, etc: or if it would be convenient to your Lordship for me to do so a Shediac; or at St. John on the waqy thither. I could wish that arrangements might be made, (if I am accepted and instituted) for my induction on or before Palm Sunday; for two reasons; viz I. that the parish, having been so long vacant, must need the services of the clergyman as soon as possible: and, II, that if inducted by that date, I could then preside, officially, at the Easter eve and vestry meetings. But in any case I desire to submit to your Lordship’s convenience and commands. I have the honor to remain Your Lordship’s obedient servant [signed] A. F. Burt

The Parsonage Durham Ont.March 11. 1893

The Rt,Rev; H.J. Kingdon, D;D;My Lord Bishop Your letter of 8th inst is duly to hand. I felt sure that the letters testimonial were not of the formal nature required: but as there was not much time; and the clergy to whom I applied seemed not to know of the proper form; I took the liberty of sending them on: and your Lordship’s kind acceptance of them has indicated that I did the best thing possible under the circumstances. As I have arranged to go to St. John next week; I will, D.V., come up to Fredericton by the first train on Tuesday March 21st; and shall hold myself, at your Lordships service, in readiness to undertake the preliminary steps indicated in your letter. I have the honor to be Your Lordship’s obedient servant [signed] A. F. Burt

St. John. N. B.March 18. 1893

Rt Rev. H. J. Kingdon, D.D.My Lord Bishop Upon my arrival in this city this afternoon I found a letter awaiting me from your Lordship notifying me that a protest; alleging illegality of the recent election at Shediac; had been lodged with you. I am entirely at a loss to understand why such protest should have been made; nor can I see the reason for the long delay in making it. Evidently the reason assigned by the protesting parties is nothing more than an invention, for I gave no such assurance nor did I even hint at it; not being aware of the possibility of any serious diversity of feeling in the parish. I was delayed a day & night in Montreal, owing to a break-down on the road: & hence I only received your letter today. But D.V. I will come up to Fredericton; as already arranged; on Tuesday next, when I trust some elucidation of the problem may be forthcoming – I have the honor to remain Your Lordship’s obedient servt. [signed] A. F. Burt

St. John. N.B.March 21. 1893

The Rt. Rev. H.J. Kingdon. D.DMy Lord Bishop. You will, I am sure, pardon me if I seem to use unwarrantable urgency in bringing the matter of my election to Shediac before you: but the position in which I find myself is fraught with such great difficulties and unpleasantness that I feel justified in making that my excuse for troubling your Lordship with this letter. The more resolutely I face the facts which confront me, the greater becomes my astonishment as the state of affairs revealed in your letter received on Saturday. According to a copy of resolution, sent me by the wardens of Shediac, passed at the meeting of Jany. 28th I was declared “duly elected as rector of this Church”: accompanying which notice was a letter expressing the desire of the parishoners [sic] that “I would be able to accept the parish and come to them at an early date.” On receipt of this letter; and not till then; I resigned my charge in Durham, Ont and wrote to your Lordship for instructions. In reply, I received from your Lordship a letter, dated Feby. 17th, notifying me that the Churchwardens had presented my name “as having been legally elected to the office of rector”; and requiring the usual letters testimonial: which I sent: and which were declared in your Lordship’s letter of March 8th to be “quite satisfactory” – and in the same letter I am summoned by your Lordship to Fredericton, for the purpose of being “sworn in “ and instituted. It was not until this time; when I held these instructions in my hand; that I ventured to dispatch, to the Commissary of the Bishop of Huron, the documents finally severing my connection with Durham; and prepared to leave that place; in accordance with the arrangements made for me, apparently – (and, until the lodgement of this tardy protest) actually in strictest accord with your Lordship’s Diocesan manual. I thus resigned my charge: broke up my home: sent my horse, carriage and furniture (in charge of my man) by I.C.R. to Shediac: and came myself by C.P.R. that I might wait upon your Lordship at Fredericton, according to your summons, for institution. Possibly it may be a wrong construction that I put upon you words:- indeed I shall only be too ready to admit so:- but, as I read them, your two letters of 15th & 18th Inst: seem to imply that you thought I had acted prematurely in coming; and that I should be blamed, as though I were personally responsible for the disagreable [sic] position into which I have been so unfortunately thrust.On the contrary: I contend that nothing could have exceeded the caution which I endeavoured to exercise; lest, by some slip, I should act unconstitutionally in the matter. I sent for a copy of the Diocesan manual, and acted in accordance with that. I have carefully read its provisions: and I fail to find any authority legalizing a protest made after the fact of an election having taken place - consequently I should infer; that, if any persons objected to the legality of an election; and were present at the meeting; it would be the duty of such person to enter a protest at the time of meeting; and to notify your Lordship, and the rector elect, at once: and not to wait for six weeks before doing so. Even the Bishop himself is limited to 30 days after receipt of presentation; within which period of time he must make such enquiries as he deems necessary; surely the parishoners [sic] right of protest should not exceed the limit placed upon Episcopal functions; and therefore I cannot understand how the parishoners [sic] can be entitled to make these objections, with propriety, now. I find, therefore, and am bound, with every expression of deference and respect, to submit that; be he responsible who may; I cannot be held responsible for the position in which I stand. Your Lordship mentions that there are very bitter feelings aroused at Shediac; feelings which I, also, cannot understand; and which, surely, cannot be directed personally against myself; as I know and am known personally by not one single person in the parish. Your Lordship will also readily understand how distasteful it would be for me to go to the parish were such the case: yet; although I cannot for a moment conceive it to be so; and have come a thousand miles with my family in response to the invitation of the parish; I still must feel, and do feel most keenly, the utter helplessness of my position. Your Lordship’s British sense of fairness and justice will, I am sure, at once recognize that I have been placed in a false position entirely without my fault; and in spite of every precaution which carefulness could suggest; and that I have a right to say, without querulousness of complaint, that, being no brawler, I find myself thrust, on the first frontiers of your diocese, into the very vortex of a distracted whirlpool of contentions; liable to be torn asunder by the tumults in which I have absolutely no part. I can do nothing in the matter myself; - I am bound and muzzled by sheer force of circumstances. I can therefore, only the more unreservedly, place myself and my case entirely in your Lordship’s hands, and await the issue; confident, as I most assuredly am, that your Lordship will in nowise permit any injustice to be done to one who finds himself thrust defenceless and disarmed, into the midst of conflict where he expected only peace. I should be very glad if your Lordship would appoint any time and place where I could meet you and talk the matter over fully. Your letter did not state that you expected to be in St. John today; but I trust that you will give me an opportunity of seeing you before you leave the city. I hope, if it shall so be arranged, that your Lordship will reveal to me the causes of the difficulty; and let me have a copy of the protest and memorial, in order that I may be able to form some intelligent idea of what the grounds of contention are. If your Lordship will grant me an interview will you kindly send a note to me at Mr. A. H. Hanington’s house; and I will wait on you at such time and place as you may be pleased to indicate. I have the honor to be Your Lordship’s obedient servant [signed] A. F. Burt

St. John N.B.March 24 1893

The Rt. Rev. H. J. Kingdon D.D.My Lord:- Permit me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 22nd Inst. enclosing private notes with many thanks for your kind expressions of approval therein contained. I am glad to know that you absolve me from blame in the matter and, although, while doing so, in one part of your letter, you, still, in another part, declare that my action in coming here was premature, yet I feel sure that your sympathies are with me, and that you will not allow any injustice to be done. While it is, also, evident that your Lordship has misapprehended some of the details of, my own movements, and of the canon law of the diocese of Huron; (an explanation of which would, I doubt not, result in a modification of your views in regard to the imputation of undue haste on my part;) still, it does not concern me, at present, to trouble your Lordship therewith; seeing that it is not my action which is in question, but the action of the Vestrymen of Shediac.Your Lordship will, I am sure, acknowledge that I,- knowing myself to be neither canonically nor legally disqualified,- had every reason to suppose that the wardens’ certificate of election was the necessary and sufficient document to warrant me in proceeding to resign Durham, and to proceed to New Brunswick. I, therefore, came conceiving – perhaps with too fond a confidence – that both Bishop and people would be glad to have the vacancy filled as soon as possible after a choice had been made; and that the advent of the rector elect to the cure of souls would be expedited with as much dispatch, as that with which a physician would be ushered into the room of a patient; without insisting upon the too-nice ceremonies of presenting his business card and being punctiliously announced; (so long as he was known to be a doctor at all). I would therefore respectfully submit that it would be only fair and right that I should have been received by the parishoners [sic] in the same spirit, of straightforwardness, in which I came and would humbly urge upon your Lordship, the wisdom and necessity of proceeding to a settlement of affairs as speedily as possible: and if:- the matter in question being still open:- there is reason to apprehend serious trouble at the Easter meetings, I would urge that an effort be made in every way possible, to end the crisis before that day arrives. Concerning the protest itself: it seems to me much less serious than your letters have led me to suppose. And, while I would not, for one moment, be understood to contradict your Lordship; still I would submit that in all matters which the provisions of our canons do not expressly cover; the church; like all other corporate bodies;- must be governed by parliamentary usage:- and, since no express provision seems to have been made in view of such protest, in your manual; we, therefore must be so governed in this case. Now, the usage in respect to a parliamentary election is clear. The candidate is not refused his seat, on the ground of a memorial; (challenging votes, cast at his election); just as he is on the point of taking the oaths;- nor, indeed would such a memorial receive a moment’s consideration;- but the votes must be challenged, if at all, on the day of election; otherwise they stand incontrovertible. Your Lordship will, I am sure, impute no impertinence to me in the expression of, this opinion; differing, as it does from your own opinion that a protest of this kind is in order at any time before institution: For it seems to me that the mere fact of, institution, in itself, cannot legalise an illegality; and, hence, if the protest is admissible before; it is equally admissible after institution: or, indeed, at any reasonable time. If his view of the law be correct; then, there can be no difficulty in your Lordship’s repudiating the legality of the whole protest, if necessary:- but, I feel certain, that if the matter were withdrawn, in toto, from the uncertain province of “the law”: and if the Shediac people were merely appealed to on the grounds of the welfare of their congregation; and of the honor due to the Body of that Church of, which our Lord is the Living Head; the whole matter would be settled at once. I can say this, with some amount of assurance, because I have been advised (by some of the parishoners [sic] who, without solicitation have communicated with me in regard to the situation) that there are several protesting parties who are heartily ashamed of their action; and who never would have signed the memorial unless influenced to do so:- and, further, that the real dispute is the outcome of nothing more formidable than some outstanding family feuds and jealousies; on account of which, if one set of people voted for one thing, the other set felt it necessarily encumbered upon them to vote for the other: and that they agreed only on one point; viz; that conciliation and concession on either side was the impardonable sin. If your Lordship should find yourself equally assured that this is the real casus belli; it would be indeed an impertinence in me or anyone else to suggest that you would deal with the matter in any other than a summary fashion. I may say that Mr. E. J. Smith, of Shediac Station, has written a most cordial letter: in which he asks me to go and preach, at any rate, in St. Andrew’s: and others, also have written saying that were I only once to go among the people, the whole contention would cease. But I have preferred to follow your Lordship’s advice; and have refused to go, until by your intervention and authority the matter is finally settled. Trusting that your Lordship may in your wisdom, be able to devise some method of settlement, before the dreaded Easter turmoils shall have given opportunity of flinging the gauntlet of irremediable antagonism among the people, to work irrevocable havoc among the congregation; I can only repeat that I feel confident that your Lordship will, in the exercise of your own proper authority, maintain the rights of the Church and Clergy against the obstructive petulances of a mere handful of quarrelsome parishioners. I have the honor to be Your Lordship’s obedient servant. [signed] A. F. Burt

From The Hartford Courant, June 8, 1918:“PATRIOTIC POEM BY REV A. F. B. BURTThe following original poem was recited by the rector, Rev. A. F. B. Burt, at the recent Memorial service in Trinity Church, Wethersfield:America, glorious land of the free,Where Liberty’s flag proudly floats in the blue,No throne may enthral thee, no sceptre subdue,All hail, O! our country, our love is for thee.

America, valiant land of the freeWhere none lives in awe of the potentate’s frown,Democracy’s cradle, Democracy’s crown,All hail, O! our country, our life is for thee.

America, generous land of the freeWhere man is the peer and the brother of manAnd stout Independence is tyrany’s ban,All hail, O! our country, our soul is for thee.

America, wonderful land of the freeWhere God is our shield, and His Justice our swordAnd the people bear rule by the might of His word,All hail, O! our country, high heav’n is for thee.

America, radiant land of the freeWhere destiny leads to the glory afar:Thou splendor of Nations - Humanity’s Star.America hail! there’s no country like thee.”

Notes for Auguste Frank Barrow & Matilda (Family)

The marriage registration confirms that Matilda was 12 years older than her husband.7